The Temple of the Living God

14 (A)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For (B)what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or (C)what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 (D)What accord has Christ with Belial?[a] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For (E)we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

(F)“I will make my dwelling among them and (G)walk among them,
    and (H)I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore (I)go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
18 (J)and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

Since we have these promises, beloved, (K)let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[b] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar
  2. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Greek flesh

The Temple of the Living God

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[a]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
    and walk among them.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.[b]
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
    and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
    and I will welcome you.[c]
18 And I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
    says the Lord Almighty.[d]

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

Footnotes

  1. 6:15 Greek Beliar; various other manuscripts render this proper name of the devil as Belian, Beliab, or Belial.
  2. 6:16 Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27.
  3. 6:17 Isa 52:11; Ezek 20:34 (Greek version).
  4. 6:18 2 Sam 7:14.